Page 60 of Claiming What Is Mine

Chapter Twenty-Six

Meredith

The ride back is quiet.By the time we wipe down the horses, brush them, and put them up, I am all yawns.

“You look ready for a nap,” Gabe says as we exit the barn.

I yawn again. “Well, if you’re offering, I wouldn’t turn down an afternoon cuddled in bed together.”

“Actually…I have an errand I need to run.” Gabe stops in the driveway, turning to face me. “How about a raincheck? You can have the bed all to yourself.” He smiles. “Huh? Stretch out and get some rest while I take care of it.”

My smile falls. “That doesn’t sound nearly as fun,” I pout.

“Trust me. It’ll be good.”

Gabe and I walk arm in arm up the porch steps. He hugs me in the doorway. “Make yourself comfortable. Get some rest. I’ll be back in an hour or so.”

Attempting my best cute temper tantrum, I stomp my feet in protest. He bends down to kiss me and lightly nuzzles my nose before pulling away.

“Sweet dreams,” he says as he leaves.

I yawn again. Maybe I’ll just close my eyes for a minute or two.

* * *

I waketo the clinking of plates and a faint smell of something delicious. I can’t place the aroma, but my nose and stomach fully approve of whatever it is. I stretch away as much sleepiness as I can and wander downstairs to investigate.

“Hey there beautiful,” Gabe calls from the kitchen. “Sorry if the noise woke you, I was trying to get all of this ready before I came up to get you.”

My eyes roam across the cartons of Chinese food littering the counter. “What is all this?”

Gabe lifts his chin. “My errand. I figured the odds were in my favor that you were going to get hungry sooner or later, and when I noticed you were tired I saw my opportunity to grab us something tasty. So. Tada!”

“You drove all the way to town and back just to get Chinese food?” I wipe the last of the sleep from my eyes. “You didn’t have an errand after all?”

Gabe wraps his arms around me. “I drove all the way to town and back just to get you Chinese food. What errand could be more important than that?”

I can’t believe my eyes. He did this all for me? On a whim?

“Thank you.” I press my head against his muscular chest.

Gabe smiles. “Well, don’t thank me yet. I wasn’t sure what you like, so I tried to pick a little of everything. There’s white and fried rice—as well as lo mein noodles, in case that’s more your speed. As for appetizers, we have crab rangoons, some pot stickers, egg rolls…oh, and soup. I picked up some egg drop soup, too.” He points to a carton of food. “For the main course, we’ve got general tso’s chicken, a staple entrée as far as I’m concerned. And I think this one is the moo shu pork. Over here we have broccoli chicken, and that one over there must be the…I think it’s called happy family.” Gabe shrugs. “Just don’t ask me what’s in it—I was going for variety—so I took a chance. Hopefully something in here sounds appetizing.” Gabe looks at me, eagerly waiting for my reaction.

I stretch up on my toes and cup his cheeks in my hands to get his undivided attention. “Thank you. For all of this. But?” I laugh. “What are we going to do with all this food? There’s so much and it must’ve cost a fortune.”

“Don’t worry about that. Whatever we don’t eat now will feed me for a week. And if I get tired of it, there’s always Hank, or worst case, Marry.” He smiles. “Now, please tell me you’re hungry.”

“You brought a Chinese buffet home for me?” I survey the counter full of food again. “I think I could eat.”

The meal is delicious. I know because I eat a little too much of everything he brought home. “Oh Gabe.” I tear my last crab rangoon in half before popping part of it into my mouth. “Everything was so good.”

“Yeah?” Gabe sits back in his seat. “Well then, mission accomplished.”

“What about you?” I ask. “What was your favorite thing?”

“Watching you enjoy yourself,” he answers.

Part of me wonders how long he’s had that answer in his pocket waiting for the chance to use it. But then I realize, for him to have gone to all this trouble, it must be true.

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